Valdese homeowner property tax bill reduced 20% in approved budget

The strenuous budget process has come to an end with the Valdese Town Council’s adoption on Monday night. The approved budget includes a 41.5 cent property tax rate (a 20% decrease), a 5% raise for employees, and retention of essential services.

Assistant Manager/CFO Bo Weichel and Interim Town Manager Bryan Steen presented the final budget with highlights for the general and utility funds.

Their approach to the budget was to justify existing and new spending using the “zero budget” model where income minus expenses equals zero.

The general fund is the principal financial support for basic services like police and fire departments, parks and recreation, and government operations. The utility funds are primarily infrastructure-related.

The general fund, covering basic services, has a budget of $7,643,990 with a 3% debt of expenditures.

Covered by the fund, the big capital investment projects this fiscal year include the clock tower repairs, Valdese Recreation Center bowling center upgrades, and public safety vehicles like a patrol car and medic truck.

Under the general fund umbrella, the other budget highlights are:

• Supported by revenue sources of property tax ($2,234,454) and sales tax ($1,879,492)

•  $2 recycling fee increase for additional revenue

•  $30,000 allocated to town staff and police training

•  $500,000 for street repaving

•  5% raise for town employees

The utility fund is operating a $6,819,202 budget with a 5% debt of expenditures. Their water and sewer facilities serve 5,450 inside and outside rate customers.

This fund’s capital investment projects include:

•  Water plant: Air-actuated valve operators ($100,000), upgrades to the booster station and storage tank telemetry ($65,000)

•  Wastewater plant: Aeration basin upgrades ($900,000)

•  Water sewer distributions: Replacement of jetter system ($75,000)

Other utility fund budget highlights are:

•  Supported by revenue sources of residential water ($3,499,981) and sewer discharge ($1,499,938)

•  1.5 multiplier for outside customer rates of what an inside customer pays

•  $57.75 outside water rate increase and $38.50 inside water rate

•  Triple Community Water District integrated to outside rates over the next two years

•  $2.50 per month sewer base fee increase

The council’s reserves fund remains at $6.6 million, used for investment opportunities for the town and unexpected costs.

The council unanimously adopted the budget, which will begin on July 1. Weichel and senior staff will enter the final numbers into the accounting system to prepare for the new fiscal year 2024-25.

A copy of the budget is available on the town’s website.

Public safety building

Facilities Review Committee recently reported to the council that the public safety building project is moving forward with a projected two-year construction process.

The town is contracting with Talley & Smith Architecture firm for the project. The new building has been designed to be located at 201 Massel Ave. SW, next door to Valdese Town Hall. The town is closing the deal on purchasing the property for $400,000 with Valdese Mills LLC.

Committee co-chairs Roger Heavner and Greg Refour said that after talking with the contractors, their committee recommendation is to relocate the fire/police department staff into the old town hall building, twice the amount of space where they currently operate. The former town hall is connected to the current department building at 121 Faet St. SW but is used as storage.

“The reason is the walls are deteriorating and creating potentially dangerous conditions,” Heavner said. “This is coupled with the fact that it’s probably going to take two years to complete the new facilities.”

The departments would still be close to the town and the old town hall could be renovated for temporary offices.

As the contractors move forward in the process, Police Chief Marc Sharpe and Fire Chief Truman Walton will be working with the firm and providing their input.

Local realtor hire

In May, Interim Town Manager Bryan Steen contacted four Valdese realtors to list seven town-owned properties. Among those, Brinkley & Associates and Thompson Realty responded to the inquiry.

After reviewing their applications and resumes, the council voted unanimously for Thompson Realty, located at 120 Main St. E in Valdese. Realtor and City of Morganton Mayor Ronnie Thompson has been established since Dec. 15, 1971. In the past two years, his company has had 53 listings and 40 sales.

The realty company will charge 8% of the sales price, which is 4% for the listing agent and another 4% for the selling agent.

The properties will be advertised through various social platforms, real estate websites, and the Chamber of Commerce membership.

Other News

The council met for a closed session on Friday, June 21, at 8:45 a.m. to discuss the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee.

The next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 102 Massel Ave. SW.